Enclosed fishbowl

ABSTRACT

An ornamental fish bowl closed on all sides and including a water pump with an aspirator for circulating the water and adding small air bubbles to it. The water is directed through an aspirator and a filter for removing suspended solids, then through a first screen to an annular space where the fish are confined. A second screen permits water to be drawn from the annular space and directed to the entrance pipe of the water pump.

1 1 Mar. 5, 1974 3,146,195 8/1964 Bcrurdi...........................,.1.119/5 X Primary I;'xaminer-Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney, Agent, orl"irm-Albert F. Kronman 5? ABSTRACT An ornamental fish bowl closed onall sides and including a water pump with an aspirator for circulatingthe water-and adding small air bubbles to it. The water is directedthrough an aspirator and a filter for removing suspended solids, thenthrough a first screen to an annular space where the fish are confined.A second screen permits water to be drawn from the annular space anddirected to the entrance pipe of the water pump.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 119/s, 210/169 A0lk 63/00 119/5, 3; 210/169ENCLOSED FISHBOWL Inventor: William M. ()g'ui, 121(1Stratf0rd Ave., Apt.98, Bronx, NY. 10472 Filed: Mar. 16, 1973 Appl. N0.: 341,894-

' Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1934 6/1942Look... 5/1959 Trucco, 5/1965 United States Patent Ogui ENCLOSEDFISHBOWL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Aquariums with water pumps and airjet devices are old in the art and have been used for some time.Generally, two pumps are required, one for circulating the water andanother for adding fine streams of air bubbles to the water at or nearthe bottom of the tank. The present invention uses a single mechanicalpump to circulate the water and force it through an aspirator nozzle todraw air into a mixing chamber and thereby aerate the water. I I

The present invention employs a transparent container with an ornamentalshape, closed at the top with a flat circular disk, and providing alarge annular space for the fish. A central space includes an aspirator,a filter, and a water pump to provide the necessary circulation andpurification means. A portion of the bowl system is open to theatmosphere so that food can be added tothe wate'randadditional water canbe added to replenish the amount lost by evaporation.

One of the features of the invention is the function of the aspiratorwhich draws air from the outside atmosphere and mixesit with water.

Another feature of the invention is the circulating system which forcesall the water through compartments which include the fish space and thefiltering means. I -Still another feature of the inventionis a compoundjet pump which mixes air: with the water and at the same time producesthe fluid energy which circulates the water through the system.

Other features and additional details of the invention will be disclosedin the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES system in greater detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the figures,thefish bowl assembly includes a base with four legs 10, a cylindricalsupport 11, and an annular compartment 12 for water and fish. The top ofthe annular space 12 is covered with a transparent c'over disk 13 whichis provided with sealing means 14 at its periphery and additionalsealing means formed with a plurality of holes 24, an inner porousinsert 25 which can be removed after extended use, and an outercylindrical wall 26, also formed with holes 27. A quantity of smallstones 28 are placed within container 22 to catch the larger solidparticles filtered from the water circulated by pump 20. The container22 is removable from the cylinder 23 and normally rests on flange 30secured to cylinder 23.

The annular compartment 12 is also supported by a generally cup-shapedring 31, turned up at its outer periphery to hold the said compartment12, and turned down at its inner edge to make a water proof seal 32 withthe top of cylinder 11. The seal 32 is conveniently made of a strip ofrubber or plastic doubled around the edge of ring 31 and supported by achannel formed at the top edge of cylinder 11. Ring 31 is formed with aplurality of stiffening ribs 33 to add strength and rigidity to thesystem.

The bottom of the annular space 12 consists of a flat plate 34 formedintegral with or sealed to the side cylinders l6 and 35. An entranceport 36 is formed in plate 34 on one side of the compartment and an exitport 37 is'located on the other side. Bothports are covered with finemesh screens 38 to keep the fish in their compartment. A third opening40 (see FIG. 3) is formed in ring 34 and joined to a conduit 41 which isbent into a U-shape to fit between cylinders 11 and 16 and then connectwith another opening 42 in the cover disk 13. As stated above, this tubepermits the entrance of water and food into the fish bowl system.

Ajet aspirator 21 is mounted in axial alignment with the bowl anddirectly above the water pump 20. Water from the pump is forced througha first nozzle 43 (see FIG. 4), then through a second nozzle 44, andfinally through a third nozzle 45, into the vertical casing 23.

Water forced through the first nozzle 43 creates a reduced pressure inthe space 46 around the nozzle and this reduced pressure draws air orwater. through pipe 47 in communication with space 48, to lower'thepressure in the circular space 48 and force the central portion of thecover down on the upper edge of cylinder -Water forced through thesecond nozzle 44 creates a reduced pressure in the space '50 aroundthe'nozzle and draws air through pipe 51 which is connected to theoutsideatmosphere through a hole in the top cover. The reduced pressuredraws air into space 50 and air and water are mixed in the nozzle 45 andsent up to the filter space where it drains through the stones 28 anddrips through holes 24. After leaving the filter, the water andentrapped air drop down to the base portion and then move through hole52 (FIG. 2) into the space between cylinders 11 and 16. The force of thewater stream and the reduced pressure at the top surface draw the waterup through screen 38 over hole 36 and into the fish compartment 12. Pump20 receives its water from pipe 53, the space between cylinder walls 11and 16, and sieve 39 over port 37. In this manner, the water iscirculated through the fish compartment 12 and, at the same time, air isadded to the water in fine bubbles to purify it. The excess air, whichis separated from the water while passing through the filter, escapesthrough a hole 54 in the top cover 13. The normal-level of water in thecentral space is shown by dotted line 55 (FIG. 2). If, for any reason,the motor 18 and pump 20 are stopped, the level of water in the centralspace rises to the level indicated by dotted line56,

giving the fish enoughwater to survive until the pump is started again.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed asnew anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An enclosed water container for use as a fish bowl and includingwater circulating means comprising: a

liquid retaining base for supporting all the container components; anannular compartment filled with water and supported by the base foraccommodating fish; a cylindrical central enclosure connected to theannular compartment for housing parts of the circulating means; a waterpump powered by an electric motor in said enclosure; a first aspiratorconnected to the pump for reducing the pressure in the annularcompartment; a second aspirator connected to the first for addingbubbles of air from the atmosphere to the water; a water filter coupledto said aspirators for removing solids from the circulating water; andconduit connecting means between the components in said centralenclosure for directing the circulating water through said componentsand the annular compartment.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said annular compartmentincludes a cover plate which is made of transparent plastic material.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein said cover plate isgenerally flat andis secured to the annular compartment by means ofresilient water tight seals.

4. A container according to claim 1 wherein the first aspiratorcomprises a nozzle positioned adjacent to a constricted conduit, theannular space surrounding said nozzle being connected to the top portionof the annular compartment for reducing the pressure therein.

5. A container according to claim 1 wherein the second aspirator ismounted above the first and in axial alignment therewith, the secondaspirator comprising a nozzle positioned adjacent to a constrictedconduit, the annular space surrounding said nozzle being connected tothe outside air for drawing air into the second aspirator and mixing airbubbles with the water 6. A container according to claim 5 wherein saidsec ond aspirator is connected by a conduit to an opening in the coverplate.

7. A container according to claim 1 wherein said water filter includes aremovable receptacle positioned around a casing connected to said secondaspirator, said receptacle including a 'quantity of small particles.

8. A container according to claim 1 wherein a hollow cylindrical supportis positioned around the central enclosure, thereby forming acylindrical space in axial alignment with saidfirst and second nozzlesfor forming conduits therebetween to direct the flow of water into andout of the annular compartment,

9. A container according to claim 1 in which the cover plate is formedwith an opening to receive one end ofa conduit the other end of which isin communication with the interior of the annular compartment.

1. An enclosed water container for use as a fish bowl and includingwater circulating means comprising: a liquid retaining base forsupporting all the container components; an annular compartment filledwith water and supported by the base for accommodating fish; acylindrical central enclosure connected to the annular comparTment forhousing parts of the circulating means; a water pump powered by anelectric motor in said enclosure; a first aspirator connected to thepump for reducing the pressure in the annular compartment; a secondaspirator connected to the first for adding bubbles of air from theatmosphere to the water; a water filter coupled to said aspirators forremoving solids from the circulating water; and conduit connecting meansbetween the components in said central enclosure for directing thecirculating water through said components and the annular compartment.2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said annular compartmentincludes a cover plate which is made of transparent plastic material. 3.A container according to claim 2 wherein said cover plate is generallyflat and is secured to the annular compartment by means of resilientwater tight seals.
 4. A container according to claim 1 wherein the firstaspirator comprises a nozzle positioned adjacent to a constrictedconduit, the annular space surrounding said nozzle being connected tothe top portion of the annular compartment for reducing the pressuretherein.
 5. A container according to claim 1 wherein the secondaspirator is mounted above the first and in axial alignment therewith,the second aspirator comprising a nozzle positioned adjacent to aconstricted conduit, the annular space surrounding said nozzle beingconnected to the outside air for drawing air into the second aspiratorand mixing air bubbles with the water.
 6. A container according to claim5 wherein said second aspirator is connected by a conduit to an openingin the cover plate.
 7. A container according to claim 1 wherein saidwater filter includes a removable receptacle positioned around a casingconnected to said second aspirator, said receptacle including a quantityof small particles.
 8. A container according to claim 1 wherein a hollowcylindrical support is positioned around the central enclosure, therebyforming a cylindrical space in axial alignment with said first andsecond nozzles for forming conduits therebetween to direct the flow ofwater into and out of the annular compartment.
 9. A container accordingto claim 1 in which the cover plate is formed with an opening to receiveone end of a conduit the other end of which is in communication with theinterior of the annular compartment.